Differential traction horseshoe



Sept. 12, 1967 L. F. MCGRAW ETAL 3,340,933

- DIFFERENTIAL TRACTION HORSESHOE Filed Feb. 5, 1966 &9 I %9 I2 United States Patent poration of Illinois Filed Feb. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 524,678 8 Claims. (Cl. 16824) This invention relates to horseshoes. The invention relates in particular to a horseshoe having a channel in the ground-engaging face thereof extending perimetrically of the toe portion and at least a portion of each lateral side of the shoe. More particularly the invention relates to such a horseshoe wherein the configuration of one section of the channel is a V-shaped valley and another section is a U-shaped trough, and wherein sections of the ground-engaging surfaces are substantially flat, planar surfaces inclined from the plane of the horses hoof and another section of the surface is convexly curved from a ridge of the channel to the side edge of the shoe.

This invention is an improvement over the horseshoe construction shown and claimed in the present applicants patents, US. Patent 2,679,906 and US. Design Patent 189,064. Briefly, the invention resides in the combination wherein: the channel having the aforementioned V- shaped and U-shaped sections is continuous from one side through the toe portion to the other side of the shoe; the transition zone from one section to the other section of the channel is located in the toe portion or at an end of the toe portion of the shoe; the outer wall of the ground-engaging face of the shoe changes from an inclined planar surface to a convex surface; and the inner wall of said face of the shoe is a substantially flat, planar surface inclined from the plane of the horses hoof throughout at least substantially the entire perimetrical length of the shoe. The present horseshoes are especially useful as shoes for race horses, for example, horses trained for thoroughbred racing and harness racing, but may be used to shod other horses as well, particularly where the advantages provided by the present horseshoes in use are required or desired.

The horseshoes of this invention provide a groundengaging surface which, generally, affords an advantage of a differential traction or ground-gripping action from the V-shaped channel section of the shoe to the U-shaped channel section of the shoe. The differential traction provided along the perimetrical length of the shoe affords a firm, positive engagement with the ground throughout the major portion of the horses stride from the very beginning at the moment of contact with the ground to a 'point near the end of the stride. Near the end of the stride, as the horses weight shifts somewhat to the front or toe portion of the hoof, the traction between the ground and a part of the ground-engaging surface of the shoe is lessened, such that the horse is forced to widen out or breakout, that is the horses hoof and leg are forced sidewardly or outwardly to the rear, instead of directly to the rear and parallel to the direction of forward movement of the horse.

This break-out motion is caused and/or controlled by that portion of the shoe in which the channel is'of a U-shaped configuration. The outer surface of the groundengaging face of this portion of the shoe is convexly curved transversely of the shoe perimeter from a ridge of the U-shaped channel portion to the outer edge of said shoe. The U-shaped channel section becomes compacted with dirt and turf and in its filled condition provides improved control of the slipping action over a continuous, solid shoe section. The V-shaped section of the channel, unlike the U-shaped section, is relatively self-cleaning.

' Also, the inclined planar wall of the shoe promotes cleaning and reduces accumulation and compaction of dirt and hce turf at this portion of the hoof, while providing a cleav age-acting surface for engaging the ground.

The transition zone from the V-shaped to U-shaped channel sections may vary from abrupt to gradual and, with the location thereof in the toe portion of the shoe, may control the degree or time of the break-out in the horses stride. An incidental advantage to the continuous channel in the shoes of this invention having the channel extending substantially throughout the perimetrical length of the shoe is that the nails for holding the shoe to the hoof may be conveniently placed to suit the hoof.

While the advantages of the present invention have been explained with particular reference to certain structural features and combinations of such features, it is to be understood that such has been done as an aid to the understanding of the invention and that the advantages of the invention are not to be necessarily restricted to the assignment thereof to particular structural features taken singularly, but rather in combination. Other objects and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the following detailed description of the inven tion, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a horseshoe of this invention looking at the ground-engaging face thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, partly in perspective, of the shoe of FIG. 1 taken along the sectional lines 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is another sectional View, partly in perspective, of the shoe of FIG. 2 taken along the sectional lines 3-3; I

FIG. 4 is a view of part of a horseshoe of this invention differing from the shoe of FIG. 1 in the structure of the transition zone between the V- and U-shaped channel sections, but otherwise identical to the shoe of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, partly in perspective, of the transition zone along the line 5-5 of the shoe shown in FIG. 4.

Like parts are designated by the same numerals in the drawings. The numeral 10 generally designates the horseshoe shown in full plan view in FIG. 1 and partly in plan in FIG. 4. The view in these figures is that of the bottom or ground-engaging face of the shoes. The hoofengaging faces of each of the shoes is identified by the numeral 11. The numerals 12 and 13, respectively designate the outer and inner side edges of the shoes.

The ground-engaging face of the shoe in FIG. 1 has a continuous channel extending substantially throughout its perimetrical length between the side edges 12 and 13 and consists of a channel section 14 having the configuration of a V-shaped valley and another channel section 15 having a U-shaped configuration, both sections merging together in a transition zone 23. The V-shaped section of the channel extends along substantially the entire length of one lateral side of the shoe (the left side, as viewed in FIG. 1) and into the toe portion, terminating 1n a zone of transition 23 located at the end of the toe portion furthest from said lateral side. The 'U-shaped channel section in the shoe of FIG. 1 extends from the transition zone 23 throughout the entire remaining length of the shoe, specifically from said end of the toe portion along the entire length of the other lateral side of the shoe.

The shoe shown is a shoe for use on a right hoof of a horse, i.e., a hoof on the right-handed side of a horse as determined by facing in the direction of forward movement of the horse. It is well to bear in mind, with respect to the aforedescribed break-out, that the lateral side of the shoe containing the U-shaped channel section 15 will be on the inner lateral edge of a horses right hoof.

The section of the shoe having the V-shaped valley therein is formed with an inverted V-shaped outer and inner ridge, 16 and 17 respectively, extending along each side of the valley and coextensive therewith. The outer surface 20 of the shoe in this section between the outer ridge 16 and the outer side edge 12 of the shoe is a substantially flat, planar surface, slanted inwardly toward the body of the shoe.

The inner surface 21 of the shoe in this section extending from the inner V-ridge 17 to the inner side edge 13 as well as in the remaining portion of the shoe extending from the inner U-ridge 19 to the inner side edge is also a substantially flat, planar surface similarly inclined inwardly toward the body of the shoe. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional configuration of this section of the shoe is generally that of a slightly askew M or inverted W.

The outer V-ridge 16 extends above the height of the inner V-ridge 17. Referring to FIG. 2, the perpendicular measurement from the apex of the outer V-ridge 16 to the hoof-engaging surface 11 is greater than the perpendicular measurement from the inner V-ridge 17 to the hoof-engaging surface 11.

The portion of the outersurface 22 of the groundengaging face that is substantially coextensive with the portion of the shoe in which the U-shaped channel section is located and extends along the entire length of the lateral side of the shoe in which this channel section is located, is convexly curved transversely of the shoe perimeter from the outer V-ridge 16 to the outer side edge 12. As explained above the inner surface 21 of this portion of the shoe is a substantially flat, planar surface It is continuous with the inner surface in the other portion of the shoe. The convex outer surface 22 and inclined fiat inner surface 21 are shown in FIG. 1 and more clearly illustrated in the cross-section of FIG. 2.

The ridges 18 and 19 at the opening of the U-shaped channel are rounded or blunt, in comparison with the knife-like edge of the inverted V-shaped ridges 16 and 17. The perpendicular measurements from the inner and outer ridges 18 and 19, respectively, to the face 11 are substantially equal. Preferably, these measurements are not less than the corresponding measurement from the inner inverted V-ridge 17 to the face 11 and not greater than the corresponding measurement from the outer inverted V-ridge 16 to the face 11. In other words, the outer U-ridge 18 does not extend above the outer V-ridge 16, as viewed in the drawings, and both the outer U-ridge 18 and inner U-ridge 19 extend above the inner V-ridge 17 Preferably, the perpendicular measurements from the U-ridges to the face 11 are intermediate the corresponding measurements from the V-ridges to the face 11. In this preferred structure, the outer V-ridge 16 may be tapered downwardly and broadened to merge with the outer U-ridge 18 and the inner U-ridge 19 may be tapered downwardly and narrowed to merge with the inner V-ridge 17. The merger of the V- and U-shaped channel sections in the transition zone 23 may be smooth and gradual. As shown in FIG. 1, the base of the U-shaped trough is gradually narrowed and the side walls thereof are gradually inclined outwardly to change from a U-shaped configuration to a V-shaped configuration.

Alternatively, in the preferred structure, the outer and inner U-ridges 18 and 19 may be tapered'inwardly along the walls of the V-shaped valley at the transition zone 26. This is shown in FIG. 4 in which the ridges overlap to provide a transition zone having two ridges on each surface of the channel, i.e., tapered ridge portion 18 and the portion of the outer V-ridge 16 in this zone and the tapered ridge portion 19' and the portion of the inner ridge 17 in this zone. The downwardly tapered inner U-ridge 19 and the tapered ridge portion 18 at the transition zone is illustrated in FIG. 5. The dual ridges 16 and 18 are shown in this figure of the drawing.

The present horseshoes may be made from conventional materials, preferably metal, such as 40.3 carbon steel or of steel of other suitable specifications. The shoes may be manufactured in any manner suitable, for example, by forging, casting or molding. The structural configuration of the present shoes recommends itself to manufacture by forging processes generally referred to in US. Patent 2,679,906. Metal bar stock of substantially rectangular configuration may be formed with a continuous channel with V- and U-shaped sections and wall surfaces as previously described in either a two-step or single step forging operation. A single step operation requires a die equal in length to the perimetric-al length of the shoe apropriately designed with the configuration necessary to produce the varied shaped continuous channel and wall surfaces.

As indicated previously, the V-shaped section need not extend to the end of the heel portion at the lateral side edge of shoe. The heel portion at this end of the shoe may have the rectangular configuration of the original bar stock, as indicated at 24 in FIG. 1. This may be removed or reduced in size by the blacksmith when the horse is fitted with the shoe.

The present shoes readily lend themselves to manufacture in a range of sizes and pre-shaped to fit the horses hooves. It is to be understood that the claims herein encompass the sale of the formed bar stock ready for shaping to the hoof as well as the pre-shaped shoe in its final form ready for application.

The invention claimed is:

1. A horseshoe having a hoof-engaging face and an oppositely disposed ground-engaging face, said groundengaging face formed with a channel in at least a portion of its perimetrical length and extending perimetrically of such portion between the side edges of the shoe beginning in said surface at one side of said shoe and continuing through the toe portion into at least a portion of the other side of said shoe,

said channel having the configuration of a V-shaped valley in that section of said portion extending along said one side of said shoe and along at least a portion of the toe and thereafter having a U-shaped configuration for the remainder of said channel extending into at least a portion of said other side, the section of the ground-engaging face containing the V-shaped valley formed therein having an inverted V-shaped ridge extending along each side of said valley and substantially coextensive therewith, the perpendicular measurement from the apex of the V-shaped'ridge at the outer edge of the groundengaging face to the hoof-engaging face being greater than the perpendicular measurement from the apex of the V-shaped ridge at the inner edge of the ground-engaging face to the hoof-engaging face,

the outer surface of the ground-engaging face that is substantially coextensive with the U-shaped portion of the channel and said other side of said shoe being convexly curved transversely of the shoe perimeter from the outer ridge of said U-shaped portion of said channel to the outer side edge of said shoe,

the inner surface of the ground-engaging face that is substantially coextensive with the U-shaped portion of the channel and said toe other side portions of the shoe from the inner ridge of said channel portion to the inner side edge of said shoe being substantially a continuation of the corresponding fiat surface of the section containing said V-shaped valley.

2. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ridges of the U-shaped portion of the channel at the V-shaped valley taper inwardly into the walls of said valley to provide a transition zone from the V-shaped to the U-shaped portions of the channel having two ridges on each surface of the channel.

3. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the V-shaped valley portion of said channel extends substantially the entire length of said one side and terminates at the end of the toe portion furthest from said one side.

4. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 3 wherein the ridges of the U-shaped portion of the channel at the V-shaped valley taper inwardly into the walls of the said valley to provide a transition zone from the V-shaped to the U-shaped portions of the channel having two ridges on each surface of the channel.

5. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the walls of the U-shaped portion of the channel merge smoothly into the walls of the V-shaped valley.

6. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 3 wherein the Walls of the U-shaped portion of the channel merge smoothly into the Walls of the V-shaped valley and the U-shaped channel extends substantially the entire length of said other side of said shoe.

7. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the perpendicular measurements from the outer and inner ridges of the U-shaped channel at the ground-engaging face to the hoof-engaging face are substantially equal.

8. A horseshoe in accordance with claim 6 wherein the perpendicular measurements from the outer and inner ridges of the U-shaped channel to the hoof-engaging face are substantially equal and are not less than the corresponding measurement from the inner ridge of said V- shaped valley to the hoof-engaging surface and no greater than the corresponding measurement from the outer ridge of said V-shaped valley to the hoof-engaging surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 26,834 3/1897 Singerly 168-4 321,420 7/1885 Culver 168-24 356,007 1/1887 Nelson l6824 538,207 3/1895 Chapman 16824 562,505 6/1896 Weekes 168-24 2,679,906 6/1954 McGraw et al. 16824 ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HORSESHOE HAVING A HOOF-ENGAGING FACE AND AN OPPOSITELY DISPOSED GROUND-ENGAGING FACE, SAID GROUNDENGAGING FACE FORMED WITH A CHANNEL IN AT LEAST A PORTION OF ITS PERIMETRICAL LENGTH AND EXTENDING PERIMETRICALLY OF SUCH PORTION BETWEEN THE SIDE EDGES OF THE SHOE BEGINNING IN SAID SURFACE AT ONE SIDE OF SAID SHOE AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE TOE PORTION INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SHOE, SAID CHANNEL HAVING THE CONFIGURATION OF A V-SHAPED VALLEY IN THAT SECTION OF SAID PORTION EXTENDING ALONG SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID SHOE AND ALONG AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE TOE AND THEREAFTER HAIVNG A U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION FOR THE REMAINDER OF SAID CHANNEL EXTENDING INTO AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID OTHER SIDE, THE SECTION OF THE GROUND-ENGAGING FACE CONTAINING THE V-SHAPED VALLEY FORMED THEREIN HAVING AN INVERTED V-SHAPED RIDGE EXTENDING ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID VALLEY AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, THE PERPENDICULAR MEASUREMENT FROM THE APEX OF THE V-SHAPED RIDGE AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE GROUNDENGAGING FACE TO THE HOOF-ENGAGING FACE BEING GREATER THAN THE PERPENDICULAR MEASUREMENT FROM THE APEX OF THE V-SHAPED RIDGE AT THE INNER EDGE OF THE GROUND-ENGAGING FACE TO THE HOOF-ENGAGING FACE, 